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¥ --- - = ey irr ~ a TEA + ne ra Ro . On Board die Queen Mary Soriewhere -All - superstitious. notions to thé con- in plowing matches in Great Britain - dom. But in many ways this year's ___the past Imperial _.honours and the cost with - ~ stay in the U.K. so that they can visit "West Germany, Holland and Denmark, -----our-request- -and-we-are- -paying- the =will fly back to Canada jnatead of re- FORE (3 SLRS 1 A yr ama SR Eh i ¥ L4F ? ¥ ] 2 * Mrs ALTARS PRIN by Pe AREER BCI arikaivh a i -- * Do gaa ga gta edd Sl on the Atlantic. This is the 'first day 'out of New York and it is Friday, January 13th. trary: the weather is clear, the sea is calm, and seasickness hasn't yet taken hold on any. of us.. By us I-mean Jim Eccles of .Brampton and Ron Margin of Sunderland, the 1949. Canadiar ¢hampion plowmen, and myself. We are on our way overseas to take part and to see how things are done on the other side of the Atlantic. This is the fourth year that the gold : _ medal winners in Trans-Atlantic horse and tractor classes at the International Plowing Match have been awarded all- expense paid trips to the United King- trip is different from the others. ~ For one thing Imperial Oil is the only company sponsoring the trip. Inj] Oil divided - the "another firm. Then this year because - of 'ex- change difficulties: and restric ted bud- gets only the - winners in the two classes aré going overseas whereas in the past the runners-up were included; and instead of spending all of the time in the United Kingdom the champion plownien this year will shorten their This change in itinerary was made. at extra .costs involved in visiting the continent. "Another change.is that we turning by boat. As in the past the coach-manager will be a sort of historian-reporter and this letter and those that follow will CANADIAN PLOWMEN ABROAD by ALEX -McKINNEY Jr, % Director ONTARIO = = PLOWMEN'S ASSOCIATI N - to describe what we see, where we go, what wo do and sometimes, What we hear, If Mark Twain hadn't already used the title I'd suggest. that these news-letters be called *"The Innocents Abroad" for this is the fist time that any of 'us have crossed the ocean al- though. we are all of British descent. The boys' gréat-grandfathers and my great-great-grandfather crossed over from the British Isles and settled in Canada. Our five-day voyage on thé Queen Mary is about equal to the number of weeks that our ancestors took to sail to Canada a "Century ago. But to start at the beginning, 'as every news reporter is taught to do, I'll introduce the two champion' plow- men and myself. Ronald Marquis, the gold medal horse plowman, is the youngest mem- ber of the group. He is 28 years of age, single, and lives with his father, Lloyd Marquis on a -150-pere farm near Sunderland, about eight miles northof Uxbridge, Ont. a contestant at plowing matches. for the past 156 years and he has won half a dozen gold' watches plus a Jara number of silver cups and trays: international and county matches. Jim Eccles, winner in the tractor class, hails from Brampton and is my next door neighbour. He is 30 years mixed farm: Like Ron Marquis, Jim |' has been taking part in plowing mat- ches.-for-the_past 15 years, For the last four years he has been trying for top place in the Esso Champions at the International. In 1946 he placed fourth, the next year he was seventh, the following year he placed sixth and last year he succeeded in winning. And now in describing my activi- __be my account of, the trip. ; 4 will I try ties I would first like to 'mention that. frre me any: W080 sre _ fabulous new fleet of exciting .new geries-- the sparkling 76" ..and the action-packed ° '88, All new and Futuramic!, See them Dealer's! Fé around! Rocketing into the Futuramic Fifties--a * New 'Futuramic styling-- fresh, fleet, free-flowing lines--wider, roomier interiors -- more visibility all The. cushioned comfort. of the "Airborne Ride"! New safety, strength and durability in_more rigid Bodigs by i CT ATHENS Oldsniobiles! Two engine at your Oldsmobile James Eccle: , "Ron has been' of fige, married, and 'works a 426-acre, Ronald Marquis, all of us have much in common.' dian families all of us raise purebred cattle and we look forward to_visiting some of the famous herds in the old countries such as the Aberdeen-Angus, Guernsey, Herefords and others whose progeny are so popular in Canada. Perhaps you wonder. why I am with the team when I did not plow-at the International last year. Well, that is casy to explain. In addition to pay- ing. the costs of sending over the champions, Imperial also provides for a coach-manager to be appointed: hy the Ontarlo Plowmen's Association. That association operates the Interns: tional Plowing. Matches. As a direc- tor it was my Juck-to be selected, Last year it was Elliott- Moses and before that it .was George Waldie, and Clark Young "acted us reporter. In 1946 it was' Fred Timbers, ~ You probahly read their newsletters and it Is my sincere hope that 1 will be.able ta fol- Tow In (heir footsteps and provide let- ters that will be as Interesting,' But to get hack to my life story. In addition to raising purebred cattle I "|grow registered-seed on my farm, cal- led Pioneer Lodge because it is the family homestead. 1 have always been interested in municipal and gov- ernment affairs and' during: my ovar- seas trip I hope to study some of the governments over there. In London I had hoped to see parliament in action but as there is 'an election on T will], only see the buildings. However: in these days when so much is being said and 'written about representative goqv- er nment it will he an-experience just to see the "Mother of Parliaments". Since October 14th at Burford (at WHI LAWA the close. of the 1949 International VEW ETACILAR Fisher! Beautiful new Futuramic golors! Get the great story of. the Oldsmobile "Rocket" -- newest, most 'advanced in motoring! Whirlaway Hydra-Matic* -- the néw. automatic drive that matches the smoothness of the "Rocket"! = Plus: a host of Futuramic features! Plan to see. the new Futuramic Oldsmobiles today, to ... . go ahead --own an Oldsmobile! *Standard on "88"; aptional at extra coat on "76", 7' Then you'll want Be- |, #ides being members of pioneer Cana: {Branch of Standard Oil | 'that we would be going over- seas, it has been a busy period. Pre- parations for the trip have involved us in pmesports, Vikas, foreign ex- change and numerous . other govern: mental @nd transportation regulations; but' we 'managed to cope. with them. There were also - meetings to attend /|and farewells to be said and of course there was no end to the tasks that had to 'be done before leaving our farms for so long a time. It will pro- bably'be six weeks before we get home. But when we gathered in Toronto on January 10th to attend a farewell lufitheon at the "Royal York Hotel these things were all behind us. Be- fore the luncheon we were interviewed and photo-graphed -by the press, then whisked off 'to radig.stations for in- terviews: and finally to the bank to draw expense money. \ At the luncheon we were addressed by 'Col. Tom Kennedy, Ontario minis- ter of Agriculture; C. D. Graham, On- tario deputy minister of agriculture; Louis-(3. N. M, Ravensloot, the Neth- erlands vice consul in Toronto; G. W. Mills of Imperial Oil and-J.-:A.-Carrol, secretary- -manager - of _ the "Ontarla Plowmen's Association and others. They all wished us Gad speed. : The day certainly went fast.and be- fore we knew. it it- was evening. We 'sajd our final gogd-bhyes 'and hoarded the train for New Yark City. Qur oversepstrip~had "hegun, Beepuse of the excitement of get. ting underway we djdn't sleep too 'well on the train but nevertheless we felt fine when we reached New York the next morning. The weather was clear and. bright which wag very for-|. tunate for us. 3 £5 We were met at the station by Eyre Company (New Jersey) who was our host for the day. ~My first impression-of: New - York saw it last many years ago. Al} the street' cars have gone and only one ¢lavated - railway yemajns. The New Yorkers get around by taxis, busés and underground railways, something the [people of Toronto will soon-be doing. During a tour 9 the 'city we spent Fo ToRANI EE Ware KET wress- HAT © 0.1808 wag that it had changed a lot since I{¢ Plowing Match) when wée were in- [more than an hour in observation tower of the Empire State Building, the tall- est building in the world, and because of the perfect visibility. we could see for more than" 16 miles in every dir- ection. We really saw New York spread out beneath us. -We-had-lunch- and saw the ice show at the Céntre studio tour of N.B.C. At night while the boys decided to make their own tour of the big city 1 went to see my brother, who lives about 356 miles from New York. I re- turned 'in the morning during the rush hours and that proved to be. an. ex- perience : Theatre, followed by a television' " New York has a population of about 8,000,000 and another 2,000,000: people from within a_ radius of 50 miles find: daily employment there, I saw comnmuter trains pouring 4,000 into. Grand Central Station every minute, 1 stood for about 10 minutes and watched the crowd fan out from the station and I've never seen such orderly confusion. And so after more hurrying around, checking -out"™ of our hotel rooms and attending to the inevitable last minute details we made for New York harbor to go aboard the Quéden Mary: The Queen Mary is sald to be the largest ship afloat, and I.can well be- lieve 'it, - Imagine a ship 756 rods long or ahout 1250 feet--as lang as the Em: pire -State- building -is--high=and you get some idea of its size. - It has ac- commodation for 2,000 , passengers, has-a crew of 1100 and is equipped to suppy everything that makes for com- fort and pleasure. It is truly a city afloat. 43 : --And so-herc we are, passengers on | the Queen Mary far out in the At- lantic heading for England and it is time to bring my first newsletter to a close." You will be hearing more: about the-champion-- Canadian plowmen: and | : in the over- seas matches, hut I phasize that the b ] will not he competing as individuals but as .representatives of the 1,178 boys who plowed at Burford.. Win, lose or draw, you'll be proud of them as good sports and good Canadians, As a result | SEE $ SUPPORT THE CANADIAN MARCH OF DIMES 3 : ~ =~Charles Clay THE 'CANADIAN: "FOUNDATION . FOR POLIOMYELITIS : This is the story of a failure. His' name' was Jean Pomminville. He came from Hallebourg, whieh 1s north of Hearst, Ontario,- which is north of nowhere. He 'was nineteen- years-old," 4 Jean had Poliomyelitin." { He lay in the bed in his parents' neat farm honie, paralyzed. He had been sent home as incurable. He had been sent home, literally, to die: But' within Jean Pomminville was a spark, which his indominable spirit faned into a tiny flame, the. flame of a desire to walk again, to be as other men. . ' ud Jean began to move a hand on his vigid bed of pain. Lying flat on his back, Jean. RBomminville took corres- pondence courses, passed his entrance. This, in itself, stamps Jean Pommin- ville 'for men as someone remarkable. "A friend, whose son had Poliomye- itis, becametinterested in Jean's case. She approached the Canadian March of Dimes, who saught expert medical opinion. . - . Yes, said "the" medical ;men, there was a chance something 'could be done for Jeah Pomminville, a chance, a bare chance, that he might walk again. The- Canadian_Foundation for Polio- myelitis- (The . Canadian March of Dimes), of which I have the honour to be the President, decided that Jean would have his chance, "Jean wai brought to Toronto by the| = Foundation, taken to 'that wonderful «| institution, Lyndhurst "Lodge, where seeming mircles are everyday comnion- place. Under the guidance of Dr, A. T, Jousse, one of the finest gentlemen, and doctors in_the whole of Canada; Jean made amazing progress. Horace Brown, the Executive Director of the . ENE HES / ww, A GENERAL MOTORS VALUE IUUURR aioe HAROLD R. ARCHER MOTOR SALES "|= TERMINAL GRILL Canadian March of Dimes; who him- Jean, and he never saw anyone s0 happy 'Jean told me be was sitting up in a wheel-chair," Horace relates. "When I went to leave, he held out his barely able to: move, 1 can tell you, 1 felt proud, as I shook -that hand. As I left, Jean"Pomminyille was smiling." It was the last time, The next day Jean Pomminville was dead. - One {those inexplicable complications ed in an 'instant, "1. can't help wishing," Brown. told me,, "that the "Canadian March of Dimes. had béen in existence two' years before, years might have made the: ditler "Who knows? i A I said this was the story of a fail It is. A magnificent failure. There is not one of us who regréts giving Jean Pomminville his chance at a nor- mal life. have been given him sooner. with every wish within us that chance we gave him had been successful, minville marches on.. It marches on in 'the Canadian ~March--of Dimes. It's in the unending bravery of. the lame little ones, who dare to think that some day they may be freed from the. chains of pain that bind them, give and. the time you give to the Canadian March of Dimes. failure, not really at all. Sil I, by his story, you are moved ta help the hundreds and thousands of great country of ours, then he has not suffered and died in vain. The first campaign of the Canadian March of Dimes moves into hiatory. in: the story of Jean: Pomminville. Only you can say whether or not the story is to have a happy ending. Jean would have liked the Canadian March of Dimes to succeed, .- You ean give to the Canadian March of Dimes, by sending your contribution 'When you do, I wonder whether you would mind marking in a corner of the envelope: "For Jean." It would make us feel his courage is not forgotten, There. 'was a fair attendance at the Mr, Fletcher thrilled his listeners with a very fine sermon. His Theme was "I would rather be a door keeper in The House of my Lord than dwell in the courts of wickedness," self has Polio, tells me he went to see' hand to me, the hand he had been - arise, aud his valiant heart' was still : Horace = Perhaps those : two, hes But we feel the spirit of Jean Fom- ° It's in thé smile of hope that lights a crippled child's face, as the kindly ' tdoctor approaches the bed of pain. - "Jean Pomminville was really uot-a other Jean Pomminville's across this to 410 Bloor Street East, Toronto 5. a Church on Sunday morning, when Rev. - Mrs. Fletcher told a Tovely tory It's in you, too, in the gifts you % Only you éan write the final chapter ~~~ a. We regret only it could not ~~ A We wish - "| to the children in Sunday School which was much appreciated . We hope for a larger attendance each Sunday. Mrs. Alex. Hewitt, Carnarvon was the guest of her sister, Mrs. A. Roach on Satuiday. W. F. Crosier attended the banquet land Swine Breeders Marketing meet- ing at the Royal York on Monday. " Sneak thieves unlocked Mr. Clinton and took his car. They feft an an- cient model Ford which later proved to car in Peserbore on Sunday, Leonard's Cleaners WHITBY, ONT. problems. . disposal, We will be pleased wo edltat you your door any Tuéaday or Satur- day. 5 Four Day Delivery Service) PHONE 2} PORT PERRY. -- FOR -- Lumber Ten Test Plywood, Flooring ~ Custom Work -- TRY -- £4 Mill i ! { UXBRIDGE, ONT. be a stolen car, Mr. Midgley got his Let us take care of your cleaning - Over 86 years experience. at your 5 Gypro, 3 Insulation Uxbridge Planing "| Midgley's garage last Thursday "night SA - pe :